Windows Vista Folder attributes preventing installs.

I received a new computer with vista home premium last night. Tried to instal adobe reader and it kept telling me that my TEMP file was full or nonaccesable and wouldn't install. I attempted to change the attributes on the folder from read only, but every time I did it reverted. Is this similar to the problem below? Mattman, how did you get it installed?

I turned off UAC, but could not install Adobe Reader, the reason was that I needed to turn UAC back on again

I am just clicking through the warnings now, for accessing some programs I am getting 2 warnings.

The way I see it, the UAC would be somewhat invaluable for cautious beginners. For those "devil may care" types it will mean nothing, they will corrupt their system anyway. For us, it is just a major PITA.

 

Hi amstern and welcome to the BBS,
The Temp file message was what I got as well. I needed to turn UAC back on.
Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Turn User Account Control on or off -> Put a check in the box and click OK.

Matt

 

Just for future reference....look at any folder's properties and you'll see they're all marked "Read only." There's a reason for that, no doubt, but for all practical purposes, Windows ignores that setting.

 

UAC is tightly integrated into the OS and turning it off is not recommended for a reason (you've just found out one of the reasons).

Try an locate Mark Russonovich's latest blurb in TechNet magazine about UAC - it's an eye opener!

FWIW - I think that, for advanced users, there should be a "switch" that will allow one to permanently allow elevation to a particular program/process - but that was squashed when I suggested it during early Beta testing.

 

There is, in a fashion, a switch.

Run > secpol.msc
Local Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options

scroll to

User Account Control: behavior of the elevation prompt for admins
User Account Control: behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users

For each line, select the desired option

Selecting "No prompt" will get rid of the annoying pop-up boxes, and will also help software load faster

Reboot


Now, if you right click the install (*.exe) files and select "run as Administrator" you will get no popups.
There is a misunderstanding of what UAC is all about. It is NOT an antivirus or spy control. All it does is reminds you, when performing certain functions like installing an *.exe file that there could be risks. The program itself has no idea if the .exe is malware or otherwise. In other words, it allows you extra reminders of probs. It is documented, all over the internet, as to how easy it is to circumvent the UAC. This obviates its purpose. It is now common practise for a user to automatically, by the many known means, to bypass the warning.

I run permanently as the true Adminstrator. With careful protection on your computer, and diligent, frequent, scanning, this imposes no more threat than running as a user.
I know this will astound the many readers of these postings, but we all have our views - there goes my dollars worth!